Decatur County News

Decatur County’s ‘Brownsport Furnace’ Could Develop Into An Interpretive Park

November 16th 2005

Last Saturday, a chartered bus carried several people to the old Brownsport Furnace area, after the group enjoyed lunch and a short presentation at the Decatur County Civic Center. Those along for the ride included several officials from Decatur and surrounding counties, a professor from MTSU, various historical societies, concerned philanthropists, and some folks that simply have an interest in old furnaces.

The Brownsport Furnace, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is being considered as a possible location for an interpretive park; a place that will tie in with the Tennessee River Trails Association (TRTA)’s project that could serve as the southern anchor for the developing Tennessee Iron Furnace Trail.

Present for the trip, which included a hike around the old furnace area, was Professor Michael Gavin, who is with the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, which is an “…organization that is working to help Tennessee River counties interpret their resources to help boost tourism,” he said.

The Brownsport furnace was the first hot-blast furnace built in the state of Tennessee, and was for many years one of the largest furnaces in the state. The furnace was used for melting iron ore, the most valuable mineral in Decatur and the adjoining counties of Hardin, Wayne, and Henderson.

“The project of making this important part of Decatur County’s past a park will benefit everyone from schoolchildren on field trips to tourists looking for a great Sunday afternoon drive destination,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Kobiske.

According to Decatur County Mayor Kenneth Broadway, current plans are underway to rebuild the area into a tourist attraction for the county. Work is being done to gather research information on the area, its buildings, and the people who lived and worked there.

“Being a rural county, the need to have this type of attraction is great, but at the same time our resources are limited,” said Kobiske. He also said that there is a lot of local support for the project, and that the county wants to establish a long-term partnership with the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area that will lead to enhancement of the Brownsport Furnace as a key heritage site in West Tennessee.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the trip to the furnace that Saturday. There were several who had never seen an old furnace of that type before, including Martha Yanchyshyn, from the Five Rivers RCD Council. Also, armed with a camera, was Shirley Bobo, from Lewis County, but originally from Wisconsin, who was interested in supporting the park project because she sees a void of parks in Decatur County and surrounding areas.

There is a need for volunteers that would like to help with the project too, said Director Kobiske. If you would like to help, or make a cash donation, please call (731)847-2476, or write to Decatur County Parks Dept., PO Box 83, Parsons, TN 38363.

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